Ava Isabel

"Ava Isabel, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May God bless and keep you always, Ava Isabel, child of God, disciple of Christ, and member of the Church." This morning in worship I was blessed to say these words while placing water upon the head of our youngest granddaughter - and my soul was moved. Could it be that, as Jesus commissioned the disciples to "Go . . . baptize . . . and teach . . ." (Matt. 28.16ff) he already knew what a powerfully humbling and spiritually lifting sacrament Baptism would be, especially when celebrated in the life of one so close to your heart? Could it be that Jesus foresaw the family connectivity the very act of baptism would inspire in all of humankind? That the sacrament would engender a radically new way of thinking about all of God's people as being of one human family? That, in Christ's simple command, God was opening a window to understanding how intimately and completely God cares for each of us? That as a 'Papa' holds his granddaughter and utters those profoundly moving words of Jesus, that all of us are drawn even closer to God's own feeling of compassion as God's holds us in the palm of God's hands and loves us into new life?

In walking Ava through the congregation and introducing the newest member of the Body of Christ to all of her new brothers and sisters in faith, reminding them how dependent she would be on them to tell her the stories of faith and to walk with her in all of life's celebrations and struggles, the sound of a rushing wind could be heard in my ears. Pentecost all over again. Tongues of fire, the Light of the Spirit, dancing on the heads of all God's people. The Gospel being spoken in the languages of all who were present as I took a light from the Paschal Candle and lit Ava's Baptismal Candle to remind her always of God's Light alive in her life. Her eyes looking trustingly into mine as, in the crook of my arm, grandfather tears sealed what God's Spirit was already doing.

Handing Ava to her mother, Bethany, I looked at her older sister, Cailin, and saw the tears running down her face. Taking the towel used to wipe off some of the excess water from Ava's head at baptism, I offered it to Cailin, who promptly buried her face in it. "Are you going to be alright?", I asked. Handing the towel back to me, Cailin nodded her head and simply said, "I'm just so happy."

And that is exactly how I feel this night, so happy. Happy for the love of God embracing all people in mercy and grace. Happy for our son and daughter-in-law who take seriously their faith and the faith of their children. Happy for the congregation who made their vows of support and care for Ava - and in so doing, reminded themselves of their own baptismal journey. Happy for Nana and Papa who are so incredibly blessed in the many ways God is at work in our family. And, happy for God, for surely God must be slapping God's knee and laughing out loud with the joy that a Parent has when child takes hold of their hand, tightly grasping it as though never to be let go.

This night I pray God's happiness for Ava Isabel, the newest member in the Body of Christ. As God's ongoing history of salvation has been expressed in every generation of humankind, may you, Ava Isabel, always dwell the steadfast love of the Lord, allowing God's Light in you to shine brightly that all the world would come to receive God's grace as you have been so blessed to do. This day, in the wonder of God's mighty Wind, this Papa has seen God's Light all over again. Thanks be to God!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don